ATLANTA (AP) — Regardless of politics or destination, passengers at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport share a common concern: it's time to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. The ongoing government shutdown has led to significant delays at TSA checkpoints, compelling many travelers to arrive up to four hours early in fear of missing their flights.
Christian Childress, a private flight attendant, noted that so far the shutdown impacts have been 'hit or miss' as he arrived nearly three hours before his flight to Nashville. He emphasized, 'Issue No. 1 should be paying the people who need to get paid and keeping our air travel system secure.'
TSA officers have not received paychecks since the Department of Homeland Security partially shut down on February 14, as Democrats have opposed funding without changes to immigration enforcement. Over the weekend, Senate measures to end the shutdown failed, leaving many airport operations crippled and spurring calls for the immediate funding of TSA amidst growing lines and delays.
President Trump threatened to engage federal immigration officers in airport security roles if an agreement is not reached. As wait times fluctuated between high peaks of 90 minutes to more manageable 25 minutes, passengers like Jackie Donahue expressed gratitude for TSA workers continuing their duties without pay. Union officials report increased resignations amid financial pressures, with many TSA staff experiencing prolonged periods without salaries throughout the continuing political impasse.
Christian Childress, a private flight attendant, noted that so far the shutdown impacts have been 'hit or miss' as he arrived nearly three hours before his flight to Nashville. He emphasized, 'Issue No. 1 should be paying the people who need to get paid and keeping our air travel system secure.'
TSA officers have not received paychecks since the Department of Homeland Security partially shut down on February 14, as Democrats have opposed funding without changes to immigration enforcement. Over the weekend, Senate measures to end the shutdown failed, leaving many airport operations crippled and spurring calls for the immediate funding of TSA amidst growing lines and delays.
President Trump threatened to engage federal immigration officers in airport security roles if an agreement is not reached. As wait times fluctuated between high peaks of 90 minutes to more manageable 25 minutes, passengers like Jackie Donahue expressed gratitude for TSA workers continuing their duties without pay. Union officials report increased resignations amid financial pressures, with many TSA staff experiencing prolonged periods without salaries throughout the continuing political impasse.
